Reply.—Dr Nussbaum expresses fear that the medical model in psychiatry would be attenuated by having traits and disorders on axis II of the DSM-III. We tend to see the modification of the medical model by using a multidimensional diagnostic system as a progressive trend. We consider DSM-III to be a model for other branches of medicine to follow because it aims at a broader biopsychosocial perspective.Actually, the Advisory Committee on Defense Mechanisms to the Work Group to Revise DSM-III has recommended that axis II serve as a place to list defense mechanisms along with personality disorders and traits. This would allow for more discriminating and specific information to be included with the diagnosis.